Cultivator-tooth



(No Model.)

H. KELLER. GULTIVATOR TOOTH.

No. 306,159. Patented 001;. '7, 1884.

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UNITED STATES ATnNT Tirion.

HENRY KELLER, OF SAUK CENTRE, MINNESOTA.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 306,159, dated October 7, 1884.

Application tiled June 7, 1894.

To @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY KELLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sauk Centre, in the county of Stearns and State vof Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Cultivator-Teeth; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to cultivator-teeth; and

it consists-in the novel construction of parts hereinafter described, whereby the tooth is normally held in its operative position, and yet is permitted to yield in contact with stumps, rocks, or other obstructions.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side view of the diagbar, tooth, &c. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the latch or retaining bar. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l, showing a modified form of drag-bar. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the preferred form of spring. Fig. 5 shows a modication, all of which will be described.

The drag-bar A is preferably formed of two metallic bars held slightly apart and having their rear ends, a, curved downward, as shown. The tooth B is preferably curved in the are of a circle, and provided at both ends with shovels or points, so it may be reversed when desired. It is pivotcd midway its ends on the lower end of the rear end of the drag-bar, and has one end extended downin operating position and its opposite end carried up into position to engage the retainingbar, presently described. I provide said tooth with two pivot-holes, b, arranged equidistant from its opposite ends, as shown in Figs. l and 3. The latchbar C is provided at 'its lower end with an eye or loop, D, and has formed through it a vertically-elongated slot, E, and it is arranged between the bars ot' the drag-bar and held thereto by a transverse pin, A, extended through the slot E, as will be understood from Figs. l and 3. The eye or loop D is preferably inclined rearward toward its lower end in (No model.)

order to more securely hold the upper end of the tooth. A handle extension, Fis extended from the upper end of thelateh-bar, as shown. This handle serves as a suitable part to grasp when it is desired to raise the drag-bar. Perforations c are formed through the latch-bar in a series alongside the slot E, and are tted to receive wooden or other suitable fragile pins, so as to hold the tooth, when desired, rigid, except when it strikes astone, stump, or other unusual obstruction,in which ease the pin breaks and the tooth yields, as indicated, sut'- -ciently to permit it to escape over the obstruction, as will be understood from Fig. 1. Vhen a yielding tooth is desired, it is only necessary to omit the pin, as will be appre` ciated. The spring G is preferably formed ot an elastic rod bent normally into the form shown, and secured at one end on the drag-` bar in advance ofthe latch-bar, and at its other end to said latch-bar at the head or upper end of the slot E. This spring gives the latch-bar upward tension and, incidentally, a tension to the rear, as will most clearly appear from Fig. l.

Vhile I prefer to form the drag-bar of two similar bars and to arrange the latch-bar between them, it is manifestthe single bar could be used and slotted to receive the latclrbar, or said latch could be secured on the side of the bar; also, that instead of bending the rear end ofthe drag-bar to form the standard, the latter could be made separate and bolted or secured in other suitable manner to the dragbar, as shown in Fig. It is also obvious that the form and location of spring could be varied in many ways without involving a departure from the broad principles of my improvement, though I prefer the form shown and before described.

Thile I prefer to use the eye or loop D and form and incline it as shown, it will be un derstood that the latch could be recessed at its lower rear edge, or otherwise suitably formed to engage the point of the shovel.

Vhen by reason of unusually large obstruction or it is desired to use the tooth as a smoothing-barrow, a slight depression of the upper end of the latch-bar will throw the lower or holding end oi' same forward, as indicated in IOO dotted lines, Fig. l, releasing the tooth. I iind the handle F convenient in this releasing de pression of the latch-bar, though said handle is intended especially for raising the dra g-bar, as before described.

Instead of slotting the latch-bar it may be made with lateral studs entering correspond ing slots in the drag-bar, so as to permit the vertical movement of the latch. I also preferV to form the latch-bar so th at the tooth will not be detached when it strikes an obstruction,though by slight mechanical changes of the point ot` engagement of tooth and latch this detachment may be had. By the construction shown it will be appreciated the tooth when forced back Wby stone ornstump will automatically resume its length and having its upper end engaged with and normally held by the spring-latch, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, with the drag-bar and the pivoted tooth, of the latch-bar adapted at its lower end to engage the tooth, and slotted longitudinally and provided with perforations fitted to receive fragile pins, and aspring connected with and actuating said latch, substantially as set forth.

3. rlhe herein described improvement in cultivators, consisting of the drag-bar, the tooth pivoted midway its ends to the drag-bar. and the vertically-vibrating spring-actuated latch having perforation litted to receive a fra-gile pin, and provided With a handle extended Titncssesr MATT SHIEFER, \V. l?. LAMBERT. 

